Instructional Technology to Address the Needs of Gifted Students

1. Instructional Technology to Address the Needs of Gifted Students Robin Gillespie Fall, 2009

2. Introduction to Gifted Programming All nations view an educated citizenry that is technology proficient as key to their future economic success. Van Tassel-Baska& Stambaugh(2006), p. 1

3. A Vision of K-12 Students Today Click on YouTube - A Vision of K-12 Students Today to watch a video explaining why technology should be integrated into instruction for all groups of students.

4. Today’s students are digital natives who expect to use technology in their everyday school life. Siegle,D. (2009)

5. Technology-based instruction is critical for gifted students due to their learner characteristics and personality traits Eckstein, M. (2008); Mann, C. (1994); Wallace, P. (2005); Ng, W. & Howard, N. (2007).

6. Technology assists in removing the ceiling on learning so that higher levels of knowledge and skills can be attained. Additionally, technology encourages creativity and removes access barriers to advanced instruction. Belcastro, F. (2002); Mann, C. (1994); Eckstein, M. (2008); Wallace, P. (2005); Siegle, D. (2008)

7. Access to technological tools alone will not suffice; it is how the technology is utilized in instruction that is most important. Van Tassel-Baska & Stambaugh (2006), p. 291

8. Differentiation in curriculum should be based on learner characteristics and needs. Research reveals 3 fundamental differences that distinguish the gifted: Learn at faster rates Find, solve, and act on problems more quickly Possess greater capacity to understand and connect abstract ideas Bowerman, M. & Duncan, S. (2005); Eckstein, M. (2008); Ng, W. & Howard, N. (2007)

9. Curriculum dimensions that may be differentiated: • Content • Process • Product Ng, W. & Howard, N. (2007)

10. Technology that will be used within our learning community: Simulations- allow students to practice real-world events through a contrived setting Web Quests- learners participate in inquiry-based activities to gain information primarily from Internet resources Virtual Field Trips- students visit places via the Internet to access experiences not readily available, accessible, or timely in their specific setting

11. 4) Ask-the-Expert- students obtain information in a timely fashion from an authority in the field 5) Telementoring- similar to Ask-the-Expert, but participants are connected online to a content expert in the field for a particular purpose and length of time 6) Distance Learning Options- electronic courses and options that address the needs of the student 7) Educational Software-utilized to expand knowledge and thinking

12. 8) Digital Stories- tell a story using digital photos 9) Miscellaneous technological hardware

13. Electronic Communication with Parents/Guardians/Students • Email/texts • Electronic newsletters and mailing lists • Blog or Wiki • Podcasts • Google Docs • Videos

14. Electronic Research Tools • Britannica Encyclopedias • Alabama Virtual Library • Wikipedia • Google The crowd isn’t always right but neither is the expert. - MaredithFarkas as cited by Siegle, D. (2008) Always check the validity of resources! Siegle, D. (2008b)

15. Educational Websites • Alabama Virtual Library • The Educator’s Reference Desk • Web Sites and Resources for Teachers • Eduscapes’ Digital and Virtual Museums • Education World’s Online Game Archives • About.com • TBA Mulrine, C. (2007)

16. Assessment Rubrics, such as those found on Rubistar , may be used to assess student learning. Google Docs, wikis, and blogs may be used as online tools to assess student understandings. Other electronic assessments, such as Accelerated Reader, may be used to assess mastery of content.

17. Right now, many students' learning experiences in school don't match the reality outside of school. We need to bridge this gap. We need to make school more relevant and engaging. We must make the on-demand, personalized tech applications that are part of students' daily lives, a more strategic part of their academic lives. If we fail to do this for all our students, we'll fail to prepare them for the future that awaits them, and the skills the world will require of them. -Arne Duncan, United States Education Secretary

18. Bibliography Belcastro, F. (2002). Electronic technology and its use with rural gifted students. Roeper Review, 25(1). Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. Bowerman, M. & Duncan, S. (2005). Technology for all. T.H.E. Journal, 32(10). Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. Eckstein, M. (2009). The gifted kids network. Gifted Child Today, 32(2). Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. Mulrine, C. (2007, Spring2007). Creating a virtual learning environment for gifted and talented learners. Gifted Child Today, 30(2), 37. Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. Ng, W. & Howard, N. (2007). Technology and independent learning. Roeper Review, 29(3), 190-196. Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. Siegle, D. (2008, Spring2008). Lights…camera…action freeze: Harnessing the motivational power of music videos. Gifted Child Today, 31(2). Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database.

19. Siegle, D. (2008b, Winter 2008). Working with wikis. Gifted Child Today, 31(1), 14. Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database.  Siegle, D. (2009, Spring2009). Literacy in the 21st century: The fourth R-Video recording. Gifted Child Today, 32(2). Retrieved September 28, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier database. Van Tassel-Baska, J. & Stambaugh, T. (2006). Comprehensive Curriculum for gifted learners (3rd edition). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.